NIC Cabanero is ready to lead the way for the men’s 3x3 Gilas Pilipinas team in the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.
Coming off fresh from pouring the highest individual score in MPBL history, the former University of Santo Tomas standout vows to give the opposition a run for their money as competitions in the half-court basketball kicks off on Monday at the Kinjo-Futo Station Square in Nagoya.
Aside from the 22-year-old Cabanero, who plays for Binan Tatak Gel, the Gilas quartet is also composed of college players Luis Pablo and Doy Dungo of De La Salle, and UST’s Koji Buenaflor.
“Sa mga college players kong kasama, I’m here to guide them as their leader. Alam ko yung capabilities nila, alam ko yung skills set nila, and alam ko how they play,” said Cabanero prior to the team’s departure for Japan on Saturday.
“We’re willing to represent the country kasi once every four years lang ang Asian Games. Sana makapag-podium finish kami.”
Cabanero, who steered the Growling Tigers to the UAAP Season 84 3x3 men’s title, went to the Aichi Prefecture fresh from scoring 53 points for Binan Tatak Gel in a 121-79 rout of Pasig in a game he highlighted with a triple double after grabbing 22 rebounds and 10 assists.
READ: Cabanero rewrites MPBL record books with 53-point triple-double
His scoring mark broke the previous high of 50 set by Jeff Viernes for the Sarangani Marlins in 2023.
Gilas 3x3 team Patrick Fran believes Cabanero still has plenty of left in his arsenal as Gilas bids to surpass the quarterfinal finish the country had when 3x3 made its debut in the Asiad in 2022 in Hangzhou.
“Madami pang ibubuga yan,” said the soft-spoken coach, who is also a UST alumnus.
“Pero magaling talaga siya (Cabanero) and a great leader.”
Gilas Men’s 3x3 will open the country’s campaign on Monday against powerhouse Mongolia followed by the game against Sri Lanka.
The team takes a one day break on Tuesday before returning to the court on Wednesday opposite Kazakhstan at tne end of group stage.
The top team in each of the four groups will advance outright to the knockout quarterfinals, while the second and third place teams in each group battle it out in a crossover play-in to determine the four others which will take the last four berths in the next round.
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